TREKKING TO THE ISOLATED AND MAGICAL CORNER OF FAR NORTHWESTERN NEPAL
19 days - Tranquil Valleys of Nepal's Remote Mountain West - Rara Lake

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'Humla. The name resonates like a hymn. Vast and humbling. Humla echoes in whispers'. In their book 'The Hidden Himalaya', Thomas Kelly and Carroll Dunham take us to the strangest place in the world. Beautiful, bitter, joyous, and holy, it is Humla, an ancient territory at the edge of Nepal. Bordering Tibet, hidden in the Himalayas.

All but forgotten by the rest of the world, the isolated territories of Humla offer vistas that are both limitless and intimate. Here is a land of eternally snow-capped mountains and sweeping valleys - a landscape as forbidding as some distant moon. This is a land where the inhabitants work an alpine soil which relinquishes sustenance begrudgingly. Trade with distant neighbors means days of driving stubborn yaks over perilous mountain trails and the long, harsh winters seem to forever banish warmth from the small villages situated in the area's many narrow valleys. However, this ancient lifestyle does yield untold riches. It is said that the splendid isolation and sheer altitude of the Hidden Himalayas brings their inhabitants closer to the gods, the Hindu Chhetri, Thakuri and Buddhist Bhotia people of this land are possessed of spirituality few Westerners will ever realize. In Humla, the gods are everywhere - in the clouds, in the mountains, in the very dung with which the soil is fertilized. Here is where Lobsang Lama lives in a rock-carved mountainside hermitage. The meditative spiritual life of Humla is partnered with many festivals of religious celebrations marked by joyous celebration. The Hidden Himalaya is our newest trekking journey into Nepal's least-visited region and is sure to be an incredibly inspiring epic Himalayan experience.

The Humla - Hidden Himalaya Trek is part of our Epic Himalayan Journey Series! These trips are led by one of our experienced Western Trekking Guides or local Sherpa Trekking Guides and represent the gourmet trekking offerings of the great Himalayan Range. Please contact us with any questions or to receive a detailed day to day Trip Itinerary.

2012 TRIP DEPARTURE DATES:
May 6 to May 24, 2012
September 2 to September 20, 2012
(the trip date indicates the day you need to arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal and the day you can schedule to depart)

In 2012, we are also able to arrange this trek starting on any day of the week during the months of March, April, May and September through mid-October for groups of 5 to 12 people.

2012 LAND ONLY PER PERSON TRIP PRICE:
5 to 8 People: $3475.00
9 to 12 People: $3215.00
Single tent and hotel room supplement: $410.00

TRIP SNIPPETS:
Hotels: 5 nights hotels
Camping Trek: 13 nights camping
Trek Grade: 13 days MODERATE to STRENUOUS trekking
Max. altitude: 12,470 feet on the Chuchemara Danda

Moderate to Strenuous Trekking = physically very challenging and more suited to hikers who are used to extended days (6-10 hours) in remote areas and who are competent over uneven and difficult terrain. These treks will involve lengthy periods at moderate altitudes.

TRIP OUTLINE: (we propose to make the remote traverse from Jumla to Rara Lake and north to Simikot)
Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to our group hotel.
Day 2: Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj. Transfer to our hotel.
Day 3: Fly to Jumla. Meet our Sherpa trekking crew and trek to Charya Chaur. 9,840 feet. Camp.
Day 4: Trek to Danphe Lagna. 11,810 feet. Camp.
Day 5: Trek to Chautha. Camp.
Day 6: Trek to Dhotu. Camp.
Day 7: Trek to the tranquil shores of Rara Lake. Camp.
Day 8: Exploration day at Rara Lake. Camp.
Day 9: Trek to Luma Village. Camp.
Day 10: Trek to Changkheli. Camp.
Day 11: Cross the Chankel La pass (11,940 feet and trek to Rimi Village. Camp.
Day 12: Trek to Melcham. Camp.
Day 13: Trek to Pomkha. Camp.
Day 14: Trek to Ghatte. Camp.
Day 15: Trek to Simikot situated high above the Humla Karnali River. Camp.
Day 16: Fly to Kathmandu. Transfer to our group hotel.
Day 17: Half-day guided sightseeing tour of Kathmandu. Hotel.
Day 18: Free day in Kathmandu or contingency day to be used on trek. Hotel.
Day 19: Transfer to airport for departure.

Country Information: About Nepal
The Hidden Himalayas: Book by Thomas L. Kelly and Carroll Dunham
Humla: Humla on Wikipedia